Sociology 220"Hispanic" NotesAs of 1999, “Hispanics” are estimated to be 11.7% of the population. The national origin or ethnicity ofthe Hispanic population in mainland US: 65% Mexico, 14% Central and South America, Puerto Rico10%, Cuba 4%, Other 7%. (Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico are not included in these figures.)Names: Hispanic/hispano=emphasis on Spanish language or name, older European connotations,preferred by Cubans and Puerto Ricans and also Mexican-descent people in New Mexico and otherEurope-identified Mexicans; Latino/a=emphasis on Latin America, more indigenous or mixed or simplegeographic connotations (more easily includes indigenous people) ; Mexican/ mexicano = from Mexico+ a strong positive racial identity [La Raza] as a mixed European/ indigenous (Aztec/ Mayan etc) people;Mexican American = identifies with the US, Mexican ancestry, an ethnic identity that does not requireSpanish language; Chicano=a politicized racial identity, drawing on Mexican racial images but stressinghomeland in what is now Southwestern US, de-emphasis on Spanish as crucial, an “insult term” forMexican Americans and Mexicans.Chicanos, Mexican Americans mostly live in the southwest (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas,Colorado) but also elsewhere, Chicago etc. Cubans mostly in Florida, Puerto Ricans mostly in NewYork, New Jersey. But all are fanning out. Immigration from other Latin American counties is growing.Cuba. Spanish, Columbus 1492; largely exterminated the 50,000 Indians. Sugar plantations; populationis mixed European and African descent. Spanish lost control in Spanish-American War 1898, became USdominated; US troops left island in 1902, but retained control of Guantanamo Bay as naval base. 1959Cuban revolution, Castro overthrows Batista (harsh dictator); originally supported by US, but thenopposed when in 1960 Castro declares the country communist. US embargo. Middle class Cubans flee. 1 million immigrate between 1960 and 1980. (Current Cuban population is about 10 million.) Earlyrefugees are educated, white; create "little Havana" in Florida, militantly anti-communist, 2/3 voteRepublican. Despite initial hardships, most are doing well economically in US. Later refugees are lesseducated, darker, having more problems, but obscured by statistics.Puerto Rico. Spanish colony, plantations, mixed European & African. Spanish colony until 1898Spanish American War, becomes US colony. English required in schools. 1917 Jones Act, PRs arecitizens of US. 1948 PR made a Commonwealth, Associated Free State. Part of US, but not a state, lesssubordinant than a colony. 1990 there are about 6.2 million Puerto Ricans, 2.7 million live on USmainland, 3.5 million live on PR; migration is free, so the numbers fluctuate. The New Progressive Party,which advocates statehood, won 2/3 of the legislative seats in 1992. NB: Many people counted as PR inthe US are from Santo Domingo; since they are illegal, it is hard to get a reasonable count.“Other” hispanic/latino. Central America, South America, Caribbean. (Central American migrants,especially illegal, often counted as Mexican, as they enter through Mexico.) Experiences vary dependingon race and class and politics of home country in relation to US foreign policy & economic interests.Mexico. Spanish colony. 1824 Mexican independence. Northern Mexico is sparsely settled; covers whatis now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and much of Colorado, Nevada. 1848 MexicanAmerican War. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: cedes northern Mexico to the US, guarantees civil rights toMexicans who choose to stay in US, right to use Spanish, right to be Catholic, right to retain landownership. Catholicism not attacked, but land rights and Spanish are; varies from place to place, butmany are driven out by Anglos. About 7% of Mexican-descent people in US today are descendants ofthose in that area in 1848; the rest are migrants or children of those who migrated after 1848, most after1900. 1876 Portofia Diaz, reaction coup, progressive Mexicans flee into US. 1910-1922, Mexicanrevolution, period of turmoil, Mexicans from various sides "hide" in US. Mexican national identitycreated in the revolution: we are a mixed people descended from both the Spanish and the Indians, proudof our Aztec (and Mayan and other indigenous) heritage and our Spanish heritage. A racial national self-identity which remains important for Mexican migrants to the US and their descendants. (Obscures thecontinuing discrimination within Mexico against Indios, the full-blood Indians who do not speak Spanishand do not assimilate as Mejicanos.) Meztiso mestizo 1910-1920's: European immigration shut off, Mexican migrants encouraged as a source of cheap labor; noimmigration quotas, no "papers" required, no real distinction between legal and illegal. 1930s depression: "get rid of foreigners." Forced deportation of Mexicans, majority US-born citizensunable to prove citizenship. Social Security provisions enacted in 1930s exempt agricultural anddomestic work; explicitly meant to exempt Mexicans and African Americans. LULAC (League of UnitedLatin American Citizens), English-oriented, civil rights: the "Mexican American Generation." NotSpanish, full rights as US citizens. 1940s, WWII, workers needed, joint programs with Mexico to import workers, bracero program; Mexicansupervision means that Mexican workers often treated better than Chicanos (US citizens of Mexicandescent). Temporary workers, leave families in Mexico. Zoot Suit riots of 1943 in Los Angeles: Anglosailors & soldiers vs Chicanos. 1950s - 1960s: operation wetback an attack on Mexican workers, less than 2% have formal proceedingsbefore expulsion. Urban renewal tears up MexAm settlements, creates crowding; migration increases. GIForum, LULAC, MAPA (Mexican American Political Association): emphasis on citizenship, full civilrights, integration. “Mexican American generation” – de-emphasis on Spanish. Late 1960s-1970s: in wake of black movement, increasing militancy and nationalist pride amongMexAms, "Chicano" taken up as proud self-identity for US-born Mexican-descent people. Chicanosbecome defined as distinct racial group for purposes of desegregation. 1965 change in immigration laweffectively lowers “legal” quotas from Mexico.1970s: serious recession in Mexico forces many north to look for work. ebbs and flows in Mexican andUS economies create economic forces for migration. Changes
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